195 picnic immunity and other forms of delusion

Well, my second round of fig drying had problems. The raccoons and squirrels didn't get them all, and they sort of resembled dried figs, but they tasted fermented, and some of them had bugs. I learned this the hardest way, by taking the six best looking ones, and sharing them at a picnic.

To make matters worse, another friend with a little more experience drying fruit, and a weekend place in a sunnier clime, brought some of his dried figs, and they were excellent.

So now the question is, can our foggy location actually dry a fig? The yard where they grow is much sunnier and warmer. 

I haven't given up, yet. But maybe I'll look into fig jam.

The beach was crowded, the park was crowded, people were loving being outside. I'm still not sure why sitting down in a park or while sidewalk dining gives you immunity, but it would appear that the standard is wear a mask while moving, then take it off while chatting face to face for a couple hours. This doesn't make a ton of sense to me, but as long as we don't all get sick at once, I guess it's a-ok.

On our bike ride (my first in the city since my bout with prostatitis last year, whoo hoo!) one of my friends, a doctor, reminded me that a big part of why we did the extreme shut down back in March was testing. We didn't have a clue where the disease was, and had very little ability to find out. 

As she explained, no private companies in the US had invested in creating a test back in January or February because they didn't know Cov2 would blow up into a pandemic, and there was no money in it. Now, the same company that was calling her back then to learn how to set up their lab is conducting all of the testing of students at her university, which has resumed some classes in person.

What could have created a test back in January or February? 

Government funding.

Tuesday is the day we've been waiting for. Joe vs. The Volcano.

At this point, dear leader is such a broken record, that this debate prepper says the best strategy is to announce what he's going to say before he says it.

Although, based on the internet, just repeating "750" might be a decent ploy.

"That makes me smart."

Geez, a bankrupt casino owner with a penchant for gold plating everything in his sight did a publicity stunt to raise his profile? No way.

And now he's got debts to foreign lenders who continue to prop up his image of financial success? 

"I could shoot somebody on Fifth Ave, and they wouldn't care."

File under: is this what it takes?

What a sad story. 

Grew up in and out of jail. Attempted to turn his life around. His son got killed, and he lost it again, just as his star was rising.

And now he's gone, at age 60. Houselessness has, among other difficulties, increased mortality. It ages you.

My friend the King told me years ago that most of the "so-called white" houseless people in the city are from other areas, whereas most of the "black" houseless actually grew up in the city. It's pretty shocking when you actually think about that. 

One group of people is here because it's a destination of choice, as difficult as that choice might be, the other is here because they've always been here and just can't afford the fucking rent. 

Anyway, if you're anywhere near Queens, NY, his art will be hanging at PS1 for the next six months.

(Also, I guess museums in NYC are open again.)

And then the smoke came back.